Companion Animal Psychology

A look back at the most popular articles and podcasts about dogs and cats over the last year. Maksym Gorpenyuk/Shutterstock By Zazie Todd PhD It's time for the annual list of the most popular posts of the year here at Companion Animal Psychology . And there's a countdown of the most popular podcast episodes too. You'll find a lot of wisdom about dogs and cats in these posts and episodes. My guest authors and interviewees are fun and inspiring in equal measure. So without further ado... The dog and cat posts of the year These were the top posts of the year on Companion Animal Psychology : 10. You can set your puppy up to be friends with your cat--if you get the intro right . 9. What are reward-based training methods for dogs (and cats)? 8. Understanding resource-guarding in dogs (and how to fix it) with Lisa Skavienski . (This is the blog post that accompanies episode 8 of The Pawsitive Post in Conversation ).  7. What are cat pheromones and what do they do? 6. 3 more reason

Season's Greetings from Companion Animal Psychology. Photo: dezy/Shutterstock A big thank you to all of my readers, listeners, and video viewers for your support this year. It is very much appreciated! Wishing you season's greetings, merry Christmas, and a very happy and healthy 2024. Zazie

Zazie and Kristi are joined by TikTok star Jennifer Malawey (Dizzy Dancing Dog) who shares her secrets about how to use social media to help dogs.   By Zazie Todd PhD Watch episode 14 of The Pawsitive Post in Conversation on Youtube or below, listen via your favourite podcast app (including Apple , Spotify ) or below, or scroll down to read the highlights. About this episode This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. In this episode of  The Pawsitive Post in Conversation , Zazie and Kristi are joined by dog trainer and influencer Jennifer Malawey. Jennifer has a CTC from the Academy for Dog Trainers and a Certified SA Pro trainer who works on separation anxiety cases, and she puts out fantastic content on dog training on her social media and Youtube. She joined us to share her secrets about how to use social media to help people learn about dogs and dog training. Jennifer talks about how she comes up with i

There's a special episode of The Pawsitive Post in Conversation being recorded in January--and you're invited. By Zazie Todd PhD In January, Kristi Benson and I are recording a special episode of The Pawsitive Post in Conversation --and you are invited to submit questions and/or to attend.  We'll be answering listeners' questions about dogs, cats, and anything else you'd like to ask us.  What is The Pawsitive Post in Conversation ? The Pawsitive Post in Conversation is our podcast about how to have a better relationship with your pet. In every episode, we cover important topics in dog and cat behaviour, training, and animal welfare, often with invited guests. And at the end of each podcast we share the books we're reading.  You can find previous episodes wherever you get your podcasts or on Youtube .  How do I ask questions for this episode? Anyone can submit questions in advance on this form . If you leave your name, we might read it out when we read out yo

“A delight for past, present, and prospective pet owners. And for everyone else.”—David Steinberg, Albuquerque Journal By Zazie Todd PhD Find out what the Animal Book Club is reading this month. But first, here's a teaser: the first sentence of the book. This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. This month, we're reading The Other Family Doctor: A Veterinarian Explores What Animals Can Teach Us about Love, Life, and Mortality by Karen Fine, DVM. From the publisher, "A tribute to our furry, feathery, scaley, and wet family members, All Creatures Great and Small meets Being Mortal in this compelling memoir of one woman's dream to become a veterinarian. Karen Fine always knew that she wanted to be a vet and wasn't going to let anything stop her: not her allergy to cats, and not the fact that in the '80s veterinary medicine was still a mostly male profession. Inspired by her grandfather, a com

The most common problems are fear, especially fear of loud noises, and not doing what the guardian wants, such as not coming when called. Photo: Mikkel Bendix/Pexels By Zazie Todd PhD New research published in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior shows that if your dog has a behaviour issue, you’re not alone.  Importantly, the study is based on a representative sample of dog guardians in Denmark, which means the results are an accurate insight into all dogs there. The findings suggest that we need to pay more attention to behaviour issues in dogs. Dr. Iben Meyer (Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen), first author of the study, told me, “The estimated prevalence of owner reported behaviour problems in dogs was much higher than what is found in veterinary records from primary veterinary practice. This points to a need for veterinarians to focus more on screening for behaviour related problems and to provide a space for the owner where such issues can be

My pick of the best hand-made and artisan gifts for dogs, cats, and their people. By Zazie Todd PhD Every year I have fun browsing Etsy to choose the most gorgeous and cute items for my annual gift guide. So if you're looking for something for your dog or cat this festive season, I've got you covered.  From the best snuffle mats to food-themed pet toys, and from dog collars to dog and cat beds and a matching sweater set, there's something for everyone. Best of all, most of these items are on sale right now. This page contains affiliate links which means I may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no cost to you. closecallstudio/Etsy These cute slices of cake are made with felt with plenty of organic catnip in the filling to ensure your cat is entertained. Available from Close Call Studio in options including strawberry cake and chocolate sprinkle. MiniTigerDesign/Etsy If pasta is more your thing, these cute tortellini cat toys are filled with strong organic catnip

Can cats even be happy? And how do you know? Some tips to help please your feline. Photo: Christopher Schruff/Pexels By Zazie Todd PhD Stereotypes about cats can get in the way of looking after them. Most people think that cats are easy pets and that you don’t need to do much for them—but the more you do from a cat-centred perspective, the better your relationship with your cat will be.  One of the challenges for people who care about cat welfare is that a lot of people don’t pay attention to their cat. It’s as if they just assume that their cat is alright. And maybe they are alright (if you’re reading this blog, I’m sure they are, since you’re showing dedication to learning about cats!). But unfortunately, experts believe that the biggest issue that affects the welfare of pet cats is a home environment that is not set up right for them and that consequently can cause the development of behaviour issues in the cat (Rioja-Lang et al 2019).   This page contains affiliate links which me